THREE-WHEELED VEHICLES

The present invention generally refers to an advanced electronic safety system - of the passive and active type - for drivers of two-wheeled or three-wheeled vehicles.

More specifically, the invention relates to an electronic system configured to allow either the function of displaying changes in direction and braking performed by drivers of two or three-wheeled vehicles, such as cycles, motorcycles and/or e-bikes and, specifically, performed by motorcyclists, cyclists and/or e-bikers, and the function of activating an emergency call or SMS (eCALL), in case of accident, to predefined contact phone numbers, by means of an APP running on a smartphone or smartwatch in use by the driver of the two or three-wheeled vehicle.

The displaying system comprises two direction indicators to be placed on the vehicle handlebar and one or two contact sensors located in the braking devices which is always present on the vehicle handlebar; the direction indicators and the contact sensors are connected to an electronic device powered by a rechargeable battery or other vehicle transmission means and are able to communicate with another electronic device which is inserted in a motorcycle, cycle and e-bike helmet or in a garment used by a user of the two or three-wheeled vehicle.

The safety system created of the invention is thus able to communicate an imminent change of direction or braking or stopping of the vehicle to the other vehicles on the road following the user; moreover, the system is able to send information to pre-selected phone numbers of an accidental event, in order to activate an immediate first aid thanks to the indication of the position in which the accident occurred (by means of a geo-location).

In particular, the displaying system of the safety system according to the invention includes:

- two direction indicators (right and left) placed on the vehicle handlebar and connected to an electronic device, wherein said electronic device includes an electronic card, a CPU, a wireless and/or radio frequency communication chip, a management chip for the two direction indicators (right and left), a chip for managing one or more contact sensors placed on one or more braking elements of the vehicle, a chip for managing communications with other electronic devices, one or more motion sensors (gyroscope and/or accelerometer), and a rechargeable battery or other power sources derived from the vehicle transmission;

- one or more contact sensors, placed on one or more braking elements of the vehicle (for example, a brake lever or an electric braking button or a brake pedal) and connected to said electronic device; an additional electronic device inserted on a motorcycle, cycle and/or e-bike helmet or in a garment of the user, which includes an electronic card, a CPU, two wireless and/or radiofrequency communication chips, one or more movement sensors (gyroscope and/or accelerometer), a chip for managing the position, change of direction and braking LEDs which are placed on a motorcycle, cycle and/or e-bike helmet or in a garment of the user, a chip for managing components for verbal communications (speakers and microphone) and a rechargeable battery which is configured to communicate with the electronic device placed on the vehicle handlebar and having the two direction indicators.

An electronic information system for pre-selected phone numbers is included in the safety system according to the invention and is configured to send information about a possible accidental event suffered by the user of the two-wheeled or three-wheeled vehicle, so as to activate an immediate first aid; said information system includes an APP running on a smartphone or smartwatch in use by the user of the two-wheeled or three-wheeled vehicle; the safety system according to the invention uses the above mentioned electronic displaying system and operates thanks to the wireless connection of the smartphone or smartwatch with the electronic device which is inserted in the motorcycle, cycle and/or e-bike helmet or in the garment worn by the user. Said APP is activated by means of an "accidental event" signal sent by the device inserted in the motorcycle, cycle and/or e-bike helmet or in the garment worn by the user and sends an alarm signal or phone alert (e-call) and/or an SMS to a preselected number of persons (contacts), indicating the name of the person who sent the alert and his/her position displayed on a digital map. The person who receive said alert is thus able to activate a first aid action or to request the intervention of public entities (police, doctors, firefighters, etc.).

The present invention thus makes it possible to create an advanced safety and prevention system, both:

- by means of an optical display with LEDs on the helmet of the user (motorcyclist, cyclist and/or e-biker) and/or on a garment worn by the user, which warns the other vehicles present on the road following the user's vehicle of its imminent changes of direction or of a braking or stop of the vehicle, thus preventing possible accidents, and

- by means of the activation in the shortest possible time of a first aid for the user in case of accident. Means for displaying the braking or stopping or changing direction actions of a vehicle, such as a motorcycle, a cycle or an e-bike, with LEDs placed on a helmet managed by other electronic devices located on the handlebar and/or on the knob of the vehicle are still known; moreover, small electronic devices applied to and/or integrated with helmets configured to cooperate with APP running on smartphones to send a report of accidental events have been also recently developed.

Safety systems for drivers of two or three-wheeled vehicles having the technical characteristics of the preamble of the attached claim 1 are also known for example from US2019/248275 and US2016/255460.

They differ from the present invention for the following reasons: a) the control devices of the LEDs for signalling changes in direction and/or braking are exclusively buttons placed on the handlebar of a two or three-wheeled vehicle which operate for indicating the change of direction to the right or left but they are difficult to activate when braking (either you act on the brakes or push a button). On the other hand, the present invention provides for one or more contact sensors placed on one or more braking elements of the vehicle, so that the user's operation is only one and perfectly functional for the purpose; b) the known sending systems for sending an e-call via an APP running on a smartphone, being normally made through data sent by a single motion sensor which is placed on a wearable object (garment and/or helmet), can operate even during "incorrect" situations because data sent are not compared to other verification data, with the risk of creating false alarms; c) known systems for displaying changes in direction and braking and known systems for sending an e-call via an APP running on a smartphone are separate systems and therefore the user has to perform several activities both for installing and managing different and often conflicting systems, as well as said known systems are obviously more expensive.

The object of the present invention is therefore to provide an advanced passive and active safety electronic system, which allows the dual functions of displaying changes in direction and braking of drivers of two or three-wheeled vehicles, such as cycles, motorcycles and/or e-bike and, more specifically, for motorcyclists, cyclists and/or e-bikers, and activating an emergency call or SMS (e-call) in case of accident, to predefined phone numbers, via an APP running on a smartphone or smartwatch in use by the user or driver of the two or three-wheeled vehicle, thus ensuring an effective passive and active safety and a system more efficient and functional and less expensive than known similar safety electronic systems.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an electronic displaying system (so as to perform a passive safety) for motorcyclists, cyclists and/or e-bikers, which can be easily installed in a two or three-wheeled vehicle and with reduced costs.

Another object of the present invention is to integrate an e-call system so as to obtain a "customer experience" of the user through activities which are normally implemented in the use of a two or three-wheeled vehicle and by using a simple APP running on a smartphone or smartwatch.

Finally, another object of the present invention is to reduce the social costs and, in particular, the costs for medical and rehabilitation expenses incurred by the national states for weak persons who suffer accidents, which are unfortunately growing all over the world, given that two or three-wheeled vehicles are the most popular means of transport in the world.

Further characteristics and advantages of the advanced passive and active safety electronic system, according to the present invention, will become more clear from the description of a preferred embodiment and from the accompanying drawing tables, in which: - figure 1A shows a helmet with visual signaling LEDs of the changes in direction and braking which are managed by the electronic circuit in cooperation with the electronic device for controlling the visual signaling LEDs located on the handlebar of a two or three-wheeled vehicle, according to the invention;

- figure IB shows a garment with the visual signaling LEDs for changes in direction and braking which are managed by the electronic circuit in cooperation with the electronic device for controlling the visual signaling LEDs located on the handlebar of a two or three-wheeled vehicle, according to the invention;

- figure 2 shows the electronic device for controlling the visual signaling LEDs placed on the handlebar of a two or three-wheeled vehicle, including the direction indicators (right and left) and the braking sensors which are managed by the electronic circuit, according to the invention;

- figure 3 shows a smartphone in which an APP running for managing an e-call, wherein said smartphone cooperates with the electronic circuit placed on the helmet and/or on the garment of the user and is able to manage other activities related to the safety of the user, according to the invention.

With reference to the attached figures, the advanced passive and active electronic safety system for drivers of two or three-wheeled vehicles and, in particular, for motorcyclists, cyclists and/or e-bikers, of the present invention includes an electronic display device which has a plurality of LEDs (2-52) placed behind a helmet (1) and/or garment (51) to be worn by a user and managed by an electronic circuit (10) including an electronic board or card (11), a CPU (12), two chips for a wireless and/or radiofrequency communication (13-18), one or more motion sensors (gyroscope and/or accelerometer) (14), a position LED management chip, a direction change and braking management chip (15), a management chip (16-17) for verbal communication (3-4) and a rechargeable battery, possibly a wireless battery (19), which cooperates wirelessly and/or in radiofrequency with an electronic device or circuit (40) placed on the handlebar (20) of a two or three-wheeled vehicle; the electronic device or circuit (40) located on the handlebar (20) of the vehicle includes two direction indicators (right and left) (31A-31B) which are connected to the electronic circuit (40) and said electronic circuit (40) includes an electronic board or card (41), a CPU (42), a wireless and/or radiofrequency communication chip (43), a management chip for the two direction indicators (right and left) (44-45), a management chip for one or two contact sensors (30) placed on one or more braking elements of the vehicle (21), a management chip (46) of a button (32) which is able to activate communications with other electronic devices (100), one or more motion sensors (gyroscope and/or accelerometer) (47) and a rechargeable battery (48), possibly a wireless battery, or other power supply derived from the vehicle transmission. The above mentioned electronic display device is configured not only to display changes in direction and braking of the vehicle by means of the LEDs (2-52), but also to compare the data of the two motion sensors (14-47), in order to determine more efficiency and/or with more certainty an accidental event both of the person wearing the helmet and/or the garment and of the handlebar of the vehicle, thus eliminating false accidental or dangerous events.

In fact, the safety system according to the invention also includes an electronic device for sending information to preselected phone numbers about an accidental event suffered by the user of the two or three-wheeled vehicle; the electronic device is configured to activate an e-call (102) for an immediate first aid and includes an APP (101) running on a smartphone or smartwatch (100), wherein said smartphone or smartwatch (100) cooperates wirelessly with the electronic device (10) placed on the helmet (1) and/or on a garment (51) worn by the user of the two or three wheeled vehicle. The e-call (102) is activated on the basis of the CPU processor (12) which compares the data received from the motion sensors (14-47).

When the user gets into the two or three-wheeled vehicle, he puts on a helmet (1) and/or a garment (51). The user provides then for coupling the electronic circuit (10) of the helmet (1) and/or the garment (51) with the electronic circuit (40) positioned on the handlebar (20) of the vehicle, so as to activate the communication between said electronic circuits. Immediately afterwards the user provides for pairing the electronic circuit (10) of the helmet (1) and/or the garment (51) with the smartphone or smartwatch (100) via the APP (101), which has been previously downloaded and installed on his/her phone by entering his/her own identified data and the phone numbers and other identification data of the people to whom the e-call will be sent (102) in the event of an accident .

While using the vehicle, the user is able to activate the display LEDs (2-52) placed on the helmet (1) and/or on the garment (51) to signal an imminent turn or curve (right or left) by operating the button (31A or 31B) with a finger of the hand or to signal a deceleration or braking or a stop by acting on one or more contact sensors (30) located on one or more braking elements of the vehicle (21). The operations of change of direction are signaled to the user by means of an acoustic signal emitted by a component for verbal communications (4). By pressing the button (32), the user is able, if necessary, to activate communications with another electronic device, such as for example the smartphone and/or the smartwatch (100).

In case of accident, the motion sensors (14-47) will detect an anomalous event and the CPU (12) will detect and compare the related data. If said data are deemed consistent to indicate an accidental event, the CPU (12) will send a signal to the smartphone or smartwatch (100) where the APP is running (101). The operating modes of said APP may be different, but specifically said APP is configured to activate one or more emergency calls or SMS (e-call) (102) to the phone numbers or contacts pre selected by the user. The above mentioned emergency calls or SMS (e-calls) (102) indicate the person who has suffered an accident and his/her position or geo localization on a digital map, thus allowing a first aid to be activated. Other functions of the APP (101) are the management of incoming and outgoing calls or notifications to/from the smartphone or smartwatch (100); said calls or notifications are accessible to the user by means of components for verbal communications (3-4-53-54) which are present in the helmet (1) and/or in the garment (51). Said activities are preferably carried out with voice functions through Artificial Intelligence (A.I.) technologies.

Furthermore, said APP (101) is also able to manage the user's biometric data which are connected to his/her safety, such as for example a heartbeat sensor (200) or other similar sensors.

Finally, said APP (101) is also able to manage other data related to the user's safety, such as for example one or more air quality sensors (201) for an healthy breathing of the user.

The invention thus conceived and illustrated herein is susceptible of numerous modifications and variations, all falling within the scope of the inventive concept of the appended claims.

Furthermore, all the details can be replaced by other technically equivalent elements.

Finally, the components used, provided they are compatible with the specific use, as well as the dimensions, may be any according to the needs and the state of the art. Where the features and techniques mentioned in any claim are followed by reference marks, such reference marks have been included for the sole purpose of increasing the intelligibility of the claims and, consequently, such reference marks have no limiting effect on the interpretation of each element identified by way of example by said reference signs.